Mold barrow



Jan. 3, 1956 L. o. GREELEY 2,729,351

MOLD BARROW Filed Jan. 25, 1952 INVENTOR LEO O. GREELY ATTORNEY UnitedStates PatentO MOLD BARROW Leo 0. Greeley, Cadillac, Mich., assignor toF. J. McCarthy, Inc., Cadillac, Micln, a corporation of MichiganApplication January 25, 1952, Serial No. 268,292 warm. or. 214-384) Thisinvention relates to conveyances and more particularly to a conveyanceof the wheel barrow type particularly adapted to handle heavy, foundrymolds.

Foundry molds, particularly sand molds, are normally very heavy articlesdue to their size and the weight of the sand forming the mold. After themold has been poured, the handling of these molds is made even moredifiicult by the heat attendant the molten metal contained in the mold.In large foundries, the difiiculty of transporting these molds isnormally overcome by the use of suitable, mechanized, conveyorequipment. Such equipment, however, is not adapted to the needs of smallfoundries. Its size and the capital investment required are both toogreat to be practical. In small foundries it is necessary to moveindividually the molds from the mold making station to the point wherethey are poured and thereafter it is frequently necessary to move themto a shakeout unit where the completed casting and the sand areseparated.

My invention is particularly adapted to the handling of these moldssince it enables the operator to pick up and transport the mold usingonly the conveyance. Furthermore, the operator is not required to bringhis hands or face adjacent a hot mold. The primary weight of the mold iscarried by the wheel of the conveyance which also adapts the conveyanceto movement of the mold over rough floor surfaces such as are frequentlyencountered in foundries. My invention is also adapted to meet thechanging needs of small foundries since it may be quickly and easilyadjusted to handle molds of various sizes and shapes.

These and other objects and purposes of my invention will be readilyseen by those acquainted with the design and construction of foundryequipment upon reading the following specification and the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side, elevation view of my invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail of the lower end of the mold gripping,leg structure.

Figure 4 is a rear, elevation view of my invention showing only the rearportion of the inventions structure.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the latch mechanism on theleg structure, taken along the plane V-V of Figure 3.

In executing the objects and purposes of my invention, I have providedan open frame type structure designed to seat over a foundry mold with awheel at one end for supporting the weight of themold. Mounted on theframe and spaced from the wheel is a rear leg assembly adapted tosupport the rear end of the conveyance and to engage and support theother end of the mold. This leg structure is made adjustable with respect to the wheel to accommodate molds of 'difierent sizes. This legstructure includes a spring structure to cause the leg and finger topivot away from the mold whereby the mold may be released. Engagementand release of the mold may be effected entirely by the operators foot.

In the following description the terms forwardly and rearwardly arefrequently used and are to be taken to mean forwardly toward the wheelof the conveyance and rearwardly away therefrom.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a mainframe including a pair of side members 2. The rearward portion of bothside members is straight while the forward end portions of the sidemembers 2 converge. The straight rearward portions of the side members 2serve as a pair of handles for the conveyance. At their forward end theside members are bent down to form the vertical frame section 3. Arearwardly projecting, horizontal finger or plate 4 is rigidly securedto the lower end of the vertical frame section 3 by any suitable meanssuch as welding. Substantially above the plate 4, the side. members 2,where they constitute the vertical frame section 3, are joined by across brace 5. Projecting forwardly from the vertical frame section 3are a pair of somewhat V-shaped brackets 6 having secured between them,at their forward ends, the wheel 7. The wheel 7 is preferably of thepneumatic type and is of such diameter that it will permit theconveyance to be readily moved over a rough surface with a heavy load.The wheel 7 supports the forward end of the conveyance above the floorsufficiently that the plate 4 clears the floor.

Extending between the straight portions of the side members 2 is thecross frame 10. The cross frame 10 consists of a cross bar 8 having oneach end a long tubular collar 11. The tubular collars 11 are adapted'toreceive the side members 2 of the main frame therethrough whereby thecross frame 10 may slide forwardly and rearwardly along the mainframe 1. The cross frame may be locked in any selected position by meansof the set screws 12, one in each of the tubular collars 11.

The cross frame 10 mounts the rear leg assembly 40. The rear legassembly includes a pair of rearwardly extending arms 13. Pivotallymounted on the cross frame 10, one adjacent each of the arms 13, are apair of legs 14. The legs 14 are somewhat L-shaped with a short sectionat their upper end extending almost horizontally and rearwardly from thecross frame 10. At their lower ends, the legs are joined by the fingeror plate 15 which extends forwardly of the legs as a means for engagingthe lower surface of a mold. The legs 14 are arranged parallel to eachother and mount the H-shaped slide 16. The slide 16 consists of a crossmember 17 having a tubular collar 18 on each end to seat around andslidably engage the legs 14. A pair of eyelets 19 are provided on thecross member 17 for anchoring the lower ends of the pair of spiraltension springs 20, anchored at their upper ends to the rearward end ofthe arms 13. The springs 20 are adapted to normally hold the slide 16substantially above the plate 15 (Figure 4).

Mounted at the center of the cross member 17 is the latch assembly 21.The latch assembly includes an upper foot plate 22 rigidly secured tothe cross member 17.

Depending from the forward portion of the foot plate 2 2 are a pair ofhangers 23, pivotally mounted between which is the latch arm 24. Thelatch arm 24 has a lower, hooked portion designed to engage the keeperor loop 25 on the plate 15. One portion of the latch arm 24 extendsrearwardly and supports the lower foot plate 26. The lower foot plate 26extends rearwardly sub stantially further than the upper foot plate 22.The foot plates 22 and 26 are joined by a bolt 27. The bolt 27 isprovided with a clearance hole through the lower foot plate 26 and belowthe foot plate 26 is surrounded by a sprin 'ZSengaged atits lower end bya nut 29. The upperend of 'the spn'ng 28 bearsagainst'thelowersurface ofthe lower foot plate 26, urging the foot plate upwardly and the latcharm 24 into engagement with the'keeper or loop 25.

Thevarious'parts of the frame structure of my invention are preferablyfabricated from tubular "material to reducethe weight 'ofthe conveyance.

Operation To load the conveyance with a mold 3'3, the forward end of"the conveyance is worked into position adjacent the mold until theplate 4- may be passed under the mold "30 with the mold centered aboutthe longitudinal center line of the conveyance. During this positioningof the conveyance, the rear leg structure is retained in its rearwardposition as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 2. The rearward endof the conveyance is then swung intoalignment with the mold. 'When theconveyance is in'position, the operator by means of his foot, pressesdownwardly'o'n the lower foot plate 26. This disenga'ges the latch arm24 from the keeper or loop 25. The tension of the springs 20 is then nolonger effective to support the leg structure and it pivots by gravityuntil the plate swings under the mold 3G. The leg structureis induced toswing downwardly into this position by the rearward extension of thelegs 14 adjacent the cross-frame 19. Thus, the mold 'is cradled betweenthe vertical frame section 3 and the rear leg assembly it) and below theside members 2. The mold 30 is provided with supports 31 of sufficientheight to permit the plates 4'and 15 to readily seat under'the moldwithout first lifting the mold. By raising the handles, the plates 4 and15 are caused to engage and lift the mold ready for transport. When themold is to be released, the conveyance is lowered to disengage theplates 4 and '15. The operator, by means of his foot, then pressesdownwardly on the upper foot plate 22, extending the springs 'andforcingthe H-shaped slide 16 downwardly until the latch arm 24 engages the loop25. By reason of the spring 28, the latch 24 will be forced to securelyengage the loop 25. Upon release of the foot plate 22, the springs 20will automatically pull the rear leg assembly upwardly into the positionindicated in broken'lines in Figure 2. The conveyance may now be readilywheeled away from the mold.

It will be seen that the operator is enabled to place the conveyanceabout the mold, load and unload the mold all without stooping to liftthe mold or to bring the operators hands or face adjacent the mold. Thisreduces fatigue by eliminating stooping. It also reduces danger ofinjury by making it possible for the operator to remain at a safedistance from a hot mold. At the same time, the mold is positivelyengaged while in transit by a structure which is inexpensive, light, andsturdy. The pivotal movement of the rear legs, in response to thesprings 20, provides ample room whereby the operator may freely maneuverthe conveyance when positioning it to load or unload a mold. A minimumof time is required for loading and unloading.

The frame of the conveyance is so designed that the side members 2. passover the mold 30. This permits the mold to be, in effect, suspended fromthe frame. The weight of the mold is, therefore, maintained close to thefloor at all times, producing great stability and making the loadedconveyance easy to balance by the operator. This same structuralarrangement reduces the dis tance the operator has to lift the handlesof the loaded conveyance to properly position them for easily handling.

Merely by loosening the set screws 12, the entire cross frame 10 may bemoved toward or away from the wheel 7 thereby quickly adjusting theconveyance for transporting molds of various sizes and shapes.

Ihave described a preferred embodiment of my invention. Variousmodifications of my invention may be made,each without-departingfrom theprinciple thereof. Each of these modifications is to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by theirlanguage expressly provide otherwise.

I claim:

1. In a conveyance of the wheel barrow type, the combination comprising:an L-shaped main frame including a forward, vertical portion and arearward, horizontal portion, said rearwardportion being joined to saidforward portion at the upper end of said-forward portion; means mountinga wheel to said forward portion; a rearwardly extending finger mountedto the lower end of said vertical portion of said main frame; a legmember having the same length as said forward portion of said main framepivotally mounted to and between said rearward portion of said mainframe for forward and rearward motion; said leg member extendingdownwardly from said main frame and means for locking said leg member insaid downwardly extending position perpendicular to said main frame; aforwardly extending finger mounted on the lower end of said leg memberwhereby an article may be cradled between said rearwardly extendingfinger and said forwardly extending finger with said fingers beneathsaid article.

2. In a conveyance as described in claim 1 wherein said means includes alatch slidably mounted on said leg member; a spring urging said latchupwardly; a keeper mounted to the lower end of said leg member andadapted to be engaged by said latch.

3. In a conveyance as described in claim l wherein said means includes alatch slidably mounted on said leg member; a spring urging said latchupwardly; a keeper mounted to the lower end of said leg member andadapted to be engaged by said latch; a first foot plate adapted to urgesaid latch downwardly; a second foot plate adapted to trip said latch.

4. in a conveyance of the wheel barrow type, the combination comprising:a main frame having a pair of spaced parallel handles at the rearwardend and a supporting wheel at the forward end; said main frame beingsubstan tially L-shaped with one leg of said L- extending rearwardlyfrom adjacent said wheel to provide a pair of handles; said one legbeing spaced substantially above said wheel; a depending leg-assemblypivotally mounted to said one leg of said-frame; detachable spring meansfor urging said depending leg assembly upwardly and rearwardly; afirst'plate on the lower end of said main frame adjacent said wheel; asecondplate on the lower end of said leg assembly; said plates beingdirected toward each other for suspending a load therebetween.

5. In a conveyance of the wheel barrow type, the combination including:a main body element including a forward, vertical portion and arearward, horizontal portion, 1 each having a pair of spaced framemembers; said rearward portion being joined to said forward portion atthe upper end of said forward portion; means mounting a l wheel to saidforward portion; a rearwardly extending plate rigidly mounted to thelower end of said vertical portion of said main body element; a crossmember slidably mounted to and between the frame members of the rearwardportion of said main body element; means for locking said cross memberagainst sliding movement; a pair of rearwardly projecting arms rigidlymounted on said cross member; apairof legs pivotally mounted on saidcross member; a slide mounted on said legs for sliding movementtherealong; .a pair of springs, each of said springs at one end anchoredto one of said arms and at the other end to said-slide for urging saidslide upwardly; a latch mounted on said slide; a forwardly extendingplate mounted on the lower end of said legs; a keeper mounted on saidplate and adapted to engagesaid latch whereby the tension of saidsprings will urge said legs upwardly and-rearwardly; a foot-pedalon saidlatch whereby said latch and said keeper may be disengaged.

6. In a conveyance of the wheel barrow type, the combination comprising:a main frame including a forward, vertical portion and a rearward,horizontal portion, said rearward portion being joined to said forwardportion at the upper end of said forward portion; means mounting a wheelto said forward portion; a leg pivotally and slidably mounted on saidrearward portion; locking means for holding said leg in a downwardlyextending position perpendicular to said rearward portion of said frame;resilient means for pivoting said leg upwardly and rearwardly; said legand said forward portion of said frame at their lower ends each having afinger for supporting an article therebetween.

7. In a conveyance of the wheel barrow type, the combination comprising:an inverted U-shaped frame having a forward leg and a rearward leg; afinger mounted on the bottom end of each leg of said frame, said fingersextending toward each other for supporting a load from beneath; a wheelmounted on said forward leg; said rearward leg being pivotally mountedto swing toward and away from said forward leg and means to lock saidrear ward leg in a vertical position; means for urging said rearward legupwardly and rearwardly upon release of said locking means; a portion ofsaid frame extending rearwardly from said rearward leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

